Heavy snowfall cuts off Pangi Valley, 30 roads blocked

A fresh spell of heavy snowfall since Tuesday night has completely cut off the Pangi Valley, leaving residents stranded and causing widespread disruption in transportation and power supply.

The valley is under a thick cover of snow, making vehicular movement nearly impossible. At least 30 roads have been rendered unusable due to heavy snowfall, leaving locals stranded. Emergency services, too, have been hampered.

The extreme weather has also caused major power outages, with over 60 transformers malfunctioning, plunging many interior villages of the valley into complete darkness. Freezing temperatures and continuous snowfall are making restoration efforts challenging for the authorities.

Apart from the Pangi Valley, the impact of the harsh winter has been felt across Chamba district, with heavy rainfall lashing the lower areas. Chamba town got 11mm of rain and Dalhousie 10mm, as per the daily bulletin of the Met Department. The widespread rain has also brought down mercury down by 4-5 notches, intensifying the cold wave.

Snowfall was reported in higher reaches of the Dalhousie, Chamba, Churah and Salooni subdivisions.

Efforts are being made to clear roads of snow and restore essential services at the earliest in the remote region. Continued snowfall and harsh weather conditions are delaying the restoration work.

The administration has urged residents to exercise caution, especially while travelling, and has assured that teams are on standby to address emergencies. The focus remains on reopening key routes in the Pangi Valley and restoring power supply to the affected villages as soon as weather conditions improve.